Overview of US public health laboratory leadership development programmes and implementation opportunities

Introduction. The public health laboratory system in the United States (USA) is extensive and focuses on the health of the nation's population by providing testing for the identification and spread mitigation of public health concerns. Testing for communicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and much more is performed on human, animal and environmental specimens by federal, state and local level public health laboratories.Gap Statement. Unique challenges exist for public health laboratory professionals, and individuals in this field are commonly appointed to leadership positions without any formal leadership or management training.Aim. The authors aim to identify potential challenges for public health laboratory leaders and suggest how leaders may successfully navigate them. Additionally, this article aims to expand awareness of federally funded public health laboratory leadership programmes in the United States and when they may be applicable for prospective or current leaders.Methodology. The authors reviewed publications and presentations to determine successful and unsuccessful leadership attributes in a public health laboratory context. They assessed federally funded leadership programmes in the USA via publications and publicly available information and interviewed select individuals who participated in or assisted in the development of these programmes.Results. Six common challenges for public health laboratory leaders were identified and potential solutions are suggested. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) provide four unique laboratory leadership training programmes for laboratorians interested in or currently employed within public health laboratories.Conclusion. While the content of the federally funded programmes is different, they all aim to provide current and future public health laboratory leaders with the skills that they need to effectively guide and support laboratory staff through the critical and intense situations that public health laboratories commonly face.